Sir Bob Geldof set to sleep rough in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is hosting the worlds largest sleep out on 9th December in an attempt to eradicate homelessness, with stars such as Liam Gallagher and Sir Bob Geldof set to attend.

An estimated 307,000 people are recorded as homeless in the UK, according to Shelter Scotland

Every 18 minutes a household in Scotland is assessed as homeless. According to research by the charity ‘Shelter,’ it is estimated that over 5,000 people are sleeping rough every year in Scotland, and every morning 5,000 children wake up without a home of their own.

Source: Social Bite Facebook

With the Scottish Government stating that there are currently over 10,000 households in temporary accommodation, the local Edinburgh based company, ‘Social Bite’, are facing the problem head on and have organised ‘Sleep in the Park’, a mass sleep out to attempt to end homelessness for good.

Over 9,000 people will sleep in Princes Street Gardens on the night of the event.

The sandwich shop, based in the capital, described themselves as a social business, which sets out goals to achieve objectives, rather than being profit driven.

‘Sleep in the Park’ will be their largest project yet, and will be the world’s largest sleep out, with some big names sleeping rough for the night. On the 9th December, celebrities such as Bob Geldof, Liam Gallagher and John Cleese will appear at the event in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh to support the cause – through performing, reading a bedtime story and joining the crowds in spending the night in the cold. Sir Bob Geldof said:

“When we launched Live Aid in 1985, it showed the power of music and events to create real and important social change. I first met Josh and Alice from Social Bite 5 years ago and I am delighted to support them and their effort to eradicate homelessness in Scotland by sleeping out in the cold at the event.”

“By taking part in Sleep in the Park, you will be joining a movement to end homelessness in Scotland for good. We believe by working together, homelessness could be eradicated in Scotland within five years.”

The event has already raised nearly £2 million and has a fundraising target of £4 million by the time of the sleep out.

If you would like more information, or wish to get involved in the ‘Sleep in the Park’, you can visit their website or Facebook.